The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-02-18
'PROGRESSOF ELECTRICITY
GROWTH OF THE ELECTRIC
LIGHT INDUSTRY
And Fifty Years Of Electric Tele.
graph-Grest Results From
Small Beginnings.

Milwaukee Sentinel: Il seems strange
enough 10 an American TO fnd a re-
view OF the history of the electric tele-
g-aph without even the mention Of the
name OF Morse. 1t is hardly necessary
10 Say that the review which omits
this name is English. The Society OF
Telegraph Engineers and Electr clans
OF England is celebrating the jubilee
rear OF the electric telegrsph,or rather
the fitch year Of i,s own orsaniz ,tion,
and IN It's proceedings and its reviews,
sud in the review of telegraph history
By the English journals, there is no
recognition CT the existence OF such a
man az Morse. The S)cisty declares
that there is no question that The late
Sir Fra 9cis Ronalds was the inventor
OF the electric telegraph. He published
in 1928 All ccount OF al electric tele-
graph which he had erected in his own
garden. at vas not until 1886
that Prof. Wheats,one called
attention TO a large experiment
of the same kird by which signals
were conveyed through several
miles OF wire. Sir Charles Bright,
however, gives ths credit Of bringing
it into practicable shape t. Mr.. Cooke,
afterward Sir William Cooke, who saw
a telegraphic experiment in ths room
Of a professor of natural philosophy at
Heidelberg in 1885. The experiment
impressed hin. He saw at once how
useful such a mode of communication
might bs made in the working Of rail.
way signals, and devoted himself to
the realization of the idea. In three
weeks he had g lie egraph at work, aud
before the end of the year he showed
Fsraday the apparatus he bad con-
structed in order to exhibit his sys-
tenn TO the directors of the Liverpool
and Manchester railway. In 1887 he
became acquainted with Wheatstone,
and the two inventors took out a Joint
patent in June. 20 it was in the very
month OF the Queens accession to the
throne that the electric telegraph
emerged from the stege Of %philosophlc
experiment and became a bust
ness fact. Within little more
than a month a telegraph was
actually laid on the L ndsn
and Birmingham rail way from Euston
Square to Oamdentown. On the even
ing of the 25th CT July, 1887, as Sir
Charles Bright reminds US, Mr.. Cooke
stationed himself at Camden,own and
Prof. Wheststone at Euston 10 put
the rev apparatus to the lest. Brunei
and Stephenson were both with Cooke
at C~amdentown, whittier the first mes.
sage was to be sent by Wheatstone at
EIston. 1t clme, and Cooke tele-
grsphed back an instantaneous reply.
Wfe2tstone describes the tumultuous
sensations with which, all alone in the
still room, he heard the needles click
in quick response to his own m ssssge,
and he adds that as he spelled out the
words he knew and felt all the msgni.
tude of the invention thus proved be.
yond all cavil aud dispute"
1t was in 1882, while on a voyage
from Havre to Nav York, that Morse
conceived til idea Of an electric tale
graph. Long before 1887 he had put
his idea into practical shape, and 1t
was in that year that he exhibited his
apparatus to Congress. Whatever
NAV be said as to the controversy be-
tween Morse and Wheatstone as to
priority OF invention, there is nc ques.
ton that Moree's conception and his
experiments were entirely original and
that the result he achieved was prac-
tical. Several European States united
in presenting him with a purse OF $780,
900. Surely his successful expert
ments should entitle him at least to an
honorable mention in the historical
review of on electrical society.
1t is only fifty yea since Morse
had such difficulty in persusdiDg Con-
gress that electricity could be used fol-
communication, since he was regarded
as a crank. And today all parts Of the
world are united by wires. 1t is less
than twenty years since the first At
lantic cable was landed, and soon after
broke. And today there are more
than 107, 900 miles OF submarine Ca
bles linking the seaports of the world
together, involving a capital of 1885,,
100000. The first successful Atlantic
cable which wac enduring was laid
only twenty years sgo.
IL is interesting to note that prior to
Morse's fest construction of an cleo
trical system Of communication, the
late Levi Burnell, of this city, had
while a member Of the Jefferson In
stitute at Rochester, erected wireI
throughout the building, connecting
room with room, and transmitted
sound from one room to another b!
the uss of batteries. His discover!
really sntedated that of Morse, bu
he put it to no further use. He Lacked
the commercial spirit, but the origin
atty of his discovery is beyond ques
ton.